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Greg Shipperd, the Delhi Daredevils coach, and Virender Sehwag, the captain, have singled out the Wankhede pitch as the deciding factor on the result of the first semi-final. Shipperd also felt the par score would be “anywhere above 150″ and had no doubt, just like the majority of the IPL games during the league phase, the semis too will go to the wire.”From what we have seen of the Mumbai pitch, it does a bit, especially in the first half,” Sehwag said. “Teams would like to win the toss and field first to give their bowlers a chance to exploit the condition.”Delhi’s chances of qualifying for the semis hung in the balance after they had completed their allotted 14 games, leaving them to fight it out with Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings for a place in the final four. Chennai’s victory over the Deccan Chargers proved the most decisive result in the final stages of the tournament as it cleared the path for Chennai and Delhi to go through.Sehwag conceded that Delhi “needed some luck at the end to get through” and Shipperd felt, keeping the contrasting ways in which both Delhi and Rajasthan had arrived to the knockout stage, that both teams were evenly poised.”It’s 50-50″, Shipperd said. “The wicket will play a major role in how the game unfolds. We have fought hard and have been competitive throughout our 14 games and made sure our losses were tight ones”.Commenting on the quality of the opposition, Shipperd said Rajasthan were no “one-man band”, but pointed out that Shane Warne would surely try to create hazards.”As far as Rajasthan goes Shane Warne will once again be a big factor,” Shipperd said. “He can create a contest out of each ball, the talking, the rearrangement of the field and that’s something we need to adapt to quickly. Most teams have a defined sort of strategies at the end of the day and it’s not just a one-man band. There are other internationals in that side like Graeme Smith, Sohail Tanvir and Shane Watson who have all done an outstanding job in addition to the impressive local boys. That’s why they are on top of the table.”To counter the strong opposition, Shipperd said his team had enough arsenal of their own, with the opening pair of Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir capable of destroying the best bowling attacks and thought the highlight of the game would be the head-to-head battle between the pair and Sohail Tanvir, the leading wicket-taker of the tournament with 21 wickets. Gambhir, incidentally, is the second highest run-getter with 523 runs. The other positives have been their brilliant fielding and the bowling, led by the inimitable Glenn McGrath.”Our opening partnerships have brought us a long way and also our bowling has performed as a group,” Shipperd said. “If they have Warne we have McGrath and it is a big game and he will play a big hand surely tomorrow. As far as fielding goes we have been one of the better sides with our players setting very, very high standards in catching and in the outfield. If you put all of this together it has been an incredible effort to reach so far.”He said Delhi’s priority would be to attack as a group to outdo the winning unit that Warne has assembled. “We need to put as much pressure on Rajasthan, let it batting, bowling or fielding and find the weakness in their group then we can capitalise which will play to our advantage.”

On the field, they might be an unpredictable bunch, but speaking to the media in a formal meet, the Indian cricketers almost always say the same things. A portion of the blame for this goes, undoubtedly, to the press personnel, who often insist on asking the most banal questions. The Taj Samudra today, however, wore an even more tired look than usual as the Indians, weary after a long tour of England as well as numerous flights, met the press.Sourav Ganguly, always a mixed bag with a microphone in hand, began on a positive note. “We’re a much improved side. Over the last one and a half years, we’ve played really good cricket. We’re still so close and yet so far from winning a Test series overseas, but our one-day performances have been very good. We’ve won 80 percent of our one-day tournaments in the last year or so,” said the Indian skipper.Not wanting to make excuses for his team before the tournament had even started, Ganguly went on to add, “I think we’re okay physically. I’ve recovered, I know we have a game tomorrow, and I’m up for it. Most of the boys will also be ready in time for the game. That’s what international cricket is about. I know it’s hard, but we have to concentrate on our game. We like being in Sri Lanka and that helps.” With the smooth easiness of a PR man for a tour company, the skipper stressed, “We like the place, we like playing here, we like the people, we like the hotel – it’s like being at home for us.”Following up his statement that the team was tired but would recover well in time for the first match against Zimbabwe, Ganguly explained why he believed that there was not too much cricket being played. “We’ve played a lot of cricket, but I think that’s okay. Our careers are only 10-12 years long, and our families understand that we have to play a lot. We’re backed by our families, and that is very important,” he said.For weeks before the start of the tournament, the players, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the International Cricket Council (ICC) were deadlocked on the issue of contracts and sponsorship. Many commentators have called the final compromise a major victory for the players over the Board. But Ganguly disagreed.”I think the Board has heard the players’ voice,” said Ganguly. “There’s a lot of talk and reports in the papers that the players have won and the Board has lost in this issue. I don’t think that’s right. They are our parent body, the body we all report to. When we have suggestions to offer or some problems, we go to them. I’m very happy with the way the Board responded and sorted our problems out. There’s no question of anyone winning.”Understandably the Indian captain wants to leave all that behind and focus on the cricket ahead. He appeared comfortable with being in perhaps the toughest pool of the tournament. “If you’re looking to win this tournament, you have to beat the best of sides. We take it as it comes and get on with the game,” said Ganguly.

For long under the shadow of his illustrious brother CK – elderto him by 19 years – Cottari Subbana Nayudu established himselfas one of the prominent players in first-class cricket in thecountry in the thirties and forties on the strength of his allround capabilities.

As a leg-spin googly bowler Nayudu was in a class of his own.This is reinforced by the fact that he took 295 wickets in theRanji Trophy, a record that stood for over a decade till anotherleg-spinner VV Kumar surpassed it in 1970. A big spinner of theball, Nayudu was an attacking bowler illustrated both by hisaverage (23.49) and by the fact that he needed just 56 matches toreach the mark. It must not be forgotten that Nayudu was also avery capable late-order batsman who scored 2575 runs at anaverage of 30.20 in a quarter century long career in the nationalchampionship.A tower of strength to various teams in the Ranji Trophy, Nayudureserved his greatest feats for Holkar and was a key player ofthe princely state’s halycon period from 1944 to 1954. In elevenyears, Holkar failed to reach the final only once and Nayudu wasamong the cricketers responsible for this enviable record. Hetook 14 wickets in a match once and twice captured more than 30wickets in a season, a commendable feat given the fact that veryfew matches were played in the formative years of thecompetition. In 1942-43, Nayudu became the first bowler to take40 wickets in a season, a tremendous achievement considering thathe played only four matches.A glutton for work, Nayudu loved bowling long spells and somehowit seems fitting that he holds the world record of sending downmost number of deliveries in a first-class game. In the RanjiTrophy final against Bombay in 1944-45, Nayudu bowled 152.5 overs(917 balls), a unique feat of endurance. His two spells are worthrecording for posterity 64.5-10-153-6 and 88-15-275-5. At leasthe was rewarded with 11 wickets for his toil even if Bombay wonthe match.In a three-decade long first-class career that commenced withrepresenting the Hindus in the Quadrangular in the earlythirties, Nayudu scored 5786 runs at an average of 23.90 withfour hundreds while picking up 647 wickets at 26.54 apiece.It is against this impressive record that Nayudu’s Test figuresmake for rather bewildering reading. In 11 Test matches, hescored 147 runs at an average of 9.18 and picked up just twowickets at 179.50 apiece. It would be easy to dismiss him as oneof the many players who could not successfully make thetransition from first-class cricket to the international level.The point was that he was in and out of the side. He played twoTests against England in 1933-34 and was not picked for the 1936tour of England. Sent later to reinforce the side, he played twoTests.He toured England again in 1946, playing in two more Tests. Onthe 1947-48 tour of Australia he played in four Tests and thenwas brought back for one last fling against England at Kanpur in1951-52. Admittedly, in almost all the Tests, he had difficultyin maintaining control over line and length.But even in the midst of this mediocre record, Nayudu’s name isassociated with one storybook feat. This was in his debut Test atCalcutta. India following on 156 runs behind, were 149 for sixwhen Nayudu joined Dilawar Hussain. There were still nearly twohours left and the odds were heavily stacked against the hometeam saving the game. Nayudu held on firmly to score 15 out of aseventh wicket stand of 52 and by the time he had been dismissed,the clouds of defeat had evaporated. Just to prove that he couldalso play strokes, Nayudu’s runs were made up of a six, two foursand a single!By any yardstick, Nayudu was an unusual bowler and C Ramaswamiwho was his teammate on the 1936 tour has left us this vividportrait: “CS bent his body so low while delivering the ball thathis head was almost on a level with the top of the stumps. Hestretched his arm fully and threw his body weight into hisdelivery so that the ball came off the pitch very quickly. Healso spun the ball extremely well but unfortunately his lengthand direction were not always controlled. Probably because ofthis unpredictability CS got quite a number of wickets. Batsmendid not seem to know when CS was going to produce that unplayableball.”The apt description just about sums up Nayudu’s art and skill.

The ECB pitch inspectors were in evidence at the Rose Bowl at the close of a second day’s play which had seen 22 wickets fall and edged Hampshire towards an early defeat, still requiring 184 to win but with only six wickets in hand.ECB Cricket chief Alan Fordham and pitch guru Tony Brown were both looking attentively at the surface shortly after Shaun Udal was up-ended and bowled by a shooter from paceman James Anderson with the final ball of the day. But the wicket could not be totally blamed for the day’s carnage, but it will depend on their take on events whether any penalty may be incurred.Only two runs had been added to the overnight tally when Shaun Udal became wicket one to open the wicket-taking barricades, led by the 19-year-old Anderson playing just his sixth first-class game.Helped by his captain and wicket-keeper Warren Hegg, who took five catches, Anderson collected a career-best 6-23 and he undermined the Hampshire innings to great effect. Only Will Kendall standing tall and recording a score of over 20 – his 54 a study of concentration and resilience that was barely seen by his teammates.Still conceding a lead of 51, Hampshire made an excellent start in whipping out Alec Swann and David Byas with only two on the board. A partnership between Mark Chilton and Stuart Law eased the fears before they both went to leave the visitors 61-4.However, veteran Neil Fairbrother, with a Championship average of just 16, recorded his best score of the season (39) and with Glen Chapple (31) quickly posted 70 for the fifth wicket.On his dismissal to the outstanding Shaun Udal, Lancashire collapsed with only Warren Hegg (23) and Gary Keedy (16) hanging around – but it was enough to take the lead past 200 and beyond, finally being bowled out for 239.It could have been more but for Udal, who bowled unbroken from the Northern End, and closed with his third five-wicket haul of the season (5-59 from 23 overs).What was required in Hampshire’s chase was not to lose too many wickets in the 12 overs remaining and have a solid building block from which to stage a charge towards 239 in the morning.What they did not require was to lose four wickets, including both openers and skipper Robin Smith in reaching 54-4 when Udal had his off-stump removed by the pacy Anderson, who also tempted Smith into an edge to Fairbrother at slip.Kendall and White both went to John Wood to leave Hampshire tottering and looking at their second defeat of the Championship campaign.But, whatever happens tomorrow may be undermined by the men in ties who were in consultations with groundsman Nigel Gray at 7.15pm tonight.

Kevin Nash and Luke Ronchi share the same Bashley-Rydal dressing room every Saturday – but next Thursday they’ll be the deadliest of rivals in a key Cheltenham & Gloucester Trophy 2003 first round tie at Hursley Park.Pace bowler Nash and his Australian team-mate will be on opposite sides when Wiltshire play the Hampshire Cricket Board in what amounts to the first of two qualifying matches for next season’s C & G Trophy.Nash will be taking the new ball for the Moonrakers, with Ronchi, signed up as the HCB’s overseas player, batting at four for the Hampshire team.”I’ve never bowled to Luke in a match situation; only in the nets,” Nash said.”He’s obviously the Hampshire danger man – and potential match-winner – as he plays his shots and scores so quickly.”If the ball’s there to hit, he will – and very hard.”But Nash knows his Perth buddy is not infallible. “Luke is always likely to give a chance, as he tends to be a bit loose and hit the ball in the air every now and then….,” he added.The Hampshire Cricket Board have a double incentive to beat their Wiltshire neighbours in the qualifier at Hursley Park, which starts at 11 o’clock and admission for which is free.For starters, there’s the incentive of a home tie against Staffordshire in the second round but, more significantly, the knowledge that, should they lose, the bulk of the Board team will never play representative cricket again.Among radical changes announced by the ECB, Board teams will not be allowed to participate in the C & G Trophy after the 2003 season.And, in addition, the 38 County (Board) Championship, under its present guise, is to be scrapped, leaving top recreational cricketers in First Class counties without any representative cricket at all.Frank Kemp, the ECB’s Cricket Operations Manager (Recreational) confirmed that “from the 2004 season, entry to the C & G Trophy will be restricted to one team from the 18 First Class counties, in addition to the 20 Minor Counties, plus Denmark, Holland, Ireland and Scotland.”No entry for Board teams like Hampshire into the country’s top 50-over competition means that, theoretically, top club cricketers like Dan Goldstraw, Paul Gover and the like will no longer have the opportunity to pit their skills against the top pros, unless the transfer their allegience to neighbouring Minor Counties.The ECB is also to scrap the existing two-day Under-19 County Championship – which Hampshire won several seasons ago and are semi-finalists again this term – and to introduce an age limitation into a new-look one-day 38 County Championship.”The age limitation will be Under 21, with up to two ‘over-age’ players allowed to play in each team,” Kemp clarified.Next season’s reshaped 38 County Board Championship will continue on a geographic eight-group basis leading to quarter, semiand final matches.”This change reflects the ‘developmental’ aspects of much County Board cricket and the fact that Under 19 cricket does not consistently involve the best players of this age, who are often playing County 2nd XI cricket,” Kemp explained.It is anticipated that the majority of matches will be played when school and university players are available, ie from June onwards.The ECB’s plans met with considerable opposition – none more so than from Hampshire themselves – but appear to have fallen on deaf ears.”These changes are seen as a big disappointment to the best Hampshire club cricketers who aspire to represent their home county, both in the 38-county competition and in the C & G Trophy,” said HCB Administrator Colin Savage.”At a time when the ECB is aiming to support and encourage cricket clubs – an important part of its National Strategy – this can only be seen as a big backward step.”It also removes the opportunity for the County Board to achieve a home tie in the third round and raise extra revenue for its crucial role in cricket development.”Wiltshire have named five Southern Electric Premier League players in their side.South Wilts opener Russell Rowe and Winchester’s Jimmy Taylor will be in the top order batting positions, with Bashley-Rydal’s Kevin Nash spearheading the Moonraker’s attack.Paul Draper (South Wilts) and Calmore’s James Hibberd are named as the two all-rounders in the Wiltshire side.Hampshire are weakened by the absence of top BAT wicket-taker Dan Goldstraw and Havant opener Andy Perry.Hampshire CB: Paul Gover (capt), Mackie Hobson, Richard Hindley (Havant), Roger Miller (Andover), Damian Shirazi, Dave Banks, Richard Dibden (BAT Sports), Lee Savident (Portsmouth), Dave Greetham (Normandy), Luke Ronchi (Bashley), Danny Peacock (Lymington).

The past week has already seen a three-day Test match with Pakistan swamping New Zealand at Lahore. India managed to put on a better show in their second innings, taking the match into the fourth day. If you have tickets for the fifth day though, one would recommend planning alternate entertainment. With two days to play, India trail by 123 with six second innings wickets in hand.The day began with a typical West Indian lower order performance. Carl Hooper (115) blazed a flamboyant trail, scoring two centuries in a series for the first time in his career. The workmanlike Shivnarine Chanderpaul (101 not out) too chipped in but then the tail collapsed spectacularly. The last six wickets fell for 18 runs, ending the West Indian innings on 394, a lead of 292.Resuming in their seventies, both Chanderpaul and Hooper marched on to centuries. Talented and yet never quite doing justice until recently, Hooper was a different man on the day. Confidence personified, the West Indian skipper thrashed the bowling to all parts, scoring boundaries at will before one hoick took the edge. Tendulkar got under a steepler and Hooper’s 115 (235 balls, 18 boundaries) came to an end.Ridley Jacobs, into the team to bolster the batting, fell for a duck, edging Nehra through to the ‘keeper.Next man, Merv Dillon made 6 before a short pitched ball from Nehra proved to be too hot to handle. Fending the ball away, Dillon found Das under the helmet on the leg side.Pedro Collins and Adam Sanford both perished for ducks to Harbhajan Singh and a comedy of errors saw last man Cameron Cuffy run out.Chanderpaul was left high and dry on 101 (231 balls, 13 boundaries) as West Indies ended with a healthy lead of 292.A sincere lad of humble beginnings is Wasim Jaffer. And one is always glad to see someone like that doing well. Looking completely the part as an opener, Jaffer partnered a nervous Das well.A West Indian lead of 312 was always going to be daunting. India needed a good start and Jaffer seemed to realise that. The Mumbai opener put his head down and played the bowling on its merit. There weren’t too many loose balls on offer, but Jaffer made every single one that came his way count.Standing tall and driving well off the back foot, Jaffer concentrated on the cover-point region. Although not attempting to thrash the ball, Jaffer had the touch and the timing to beat the fence with ease. Pedro Collins came in for severe treatment, his bowling ideal for Jaffer to thump away. Short of a length and outside the off, going away with the arm, the angle and pace was ideal for Jaffer to score off. The fact that the offside field was packed did nothing to deter Jaffer.In the 23rd over of the innings, however, there was a flutter. A fierce chop from Jaffer went straight towards Ramnaresh Sarwan at cover. The West Indian dived forward and collected the ball. Unsure, umpire Asoka de Silva referred the matter to the third umpire. After seeing replays from several angles, Billy Doctrove was unable to say for sure that Sarwan had caught it cleanly. The batsman was, rightly, given the benefit of doubt.Soon after, however, Jaffer fell against the grain of play. Das tapped a Cuffy delivery slowly towards point and set off for a quick single. Chanderpaul swooped in, scored a direct hit underarm and Jaffer (51, 75 balls, 10 fours) was short of his crease.As is so often the case, the final session of the day proved to be the hardest to bat out. After tea, India went from 80/1 to 169/4. Barring major miracles, this match is now well and truly in West Indies’ lap. In the final session, 41 overs were bowled, 89 runs scored and three crucial wickets lost.It was Shiv Sunder Das who fell first. Although not terribly convincing at the wicket, Das battled it out to see off 138 balls for his 35 before a hard flick to the onside found Sarwan. Fielding close, Sarwan grabbed the chance, a sharp one.The fall of Das’ wicket brought Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar together. The partnership did not last as long as India would have liked. In the 48th over of the innings Dravid (14) nicked Sanford through to Jacobs behind the stumps.And then came the big wicket of the day. Merv Dillon bowling wicket to wicket got Tendulkar to play down the wrong line to a delivery slanting in, the appeal was spontaneous and umpire Asoka de Silva upheld it. Tendulkar was gone for just 8. Replays suggested the ball might have sailed over the stumps. Tendulkar will certainly consider himself a touch unlucky.Laxman knows these positions where India is in deep trouble. It is after all in such a state that he made a name for himself with his epic 281 against Australia. The same Laxman, however, is too much of a stroke player to be rock solid. Driving and pushing away from his body, Laxman tends to give the bowlers a chance.The Hyderabadi stylist was caught behind once off the bowling of Pedro Collins. Fortunately for Laxman a no-ball was called and he batted through to stumps with 30 against his name. Ganguly, finding the going tough under constantly fading light, was on 15 when bad light was offered and the players left the field.Spare a thought at the end of the day for Cameron Cuffy, the unsung hero of the West Indies team. Contrary to everything Caribbean fast bowlers have been in recent times, Cuffy bowled with unnerving accuracy, sending down 18 overs for just 3 runs. The 15 maiden overs he bowled were the kind that we’re used to seeing Glenn McGrath bowl, and certainly heaped the pressure on the Indians.

Kent need another 185 runs to beat Lancashire after they bowled the hosts out for 347 at Liverpool. Skipper David Fulton, on 85 not out, helped his side reach 174 for two at stumps. Earlier there were three wickets apiece for Majid Khan, Martin Saggers and Mark Ealham, and an unbeaten 80 from Peter Martin towards the Lancashire total.A double century from Darren Lehmann has enabled Yorkshire to fight back into contention at Arundel, closing on 357 for four in their second innings, 220 ahead of Sussex. Lehmann made 216 (one six, 25 fours) and Michael Lumb an unbeaten 89 for the visitors.Warwickshire look well set for victory at Birmingham after Somerset ended the day on 248 for six, still needing another 197 for victory. Dominic Ostler went on to 175 this morning to help set the visitors a daunting 446 for victory, and despite half centuries for Michael Burns and Ian Blackwell they look unlikely to get there.Worcestershire duly completed a rout of Durham at New Road. Kabir Ali (four for 77) and Andy Bichel (three for 84) repeated their first innings success as the visitors were bowled out for 215, Danny Law fighting a lone rearguard with an unbeaten 72. Worcestershire won by an innings and 308 runs.Middlesex look on target to beat Glamorgan at Cardiff, despite a century from the home skipper Steve James. Forced to follow on after being bowled out for 235 in their first innings (Phil Tufnell six for 96), Glamorgan were 301 for five at stumps, still 97 runs behind.An unbeaten 60 from Ashley Cowan boosted Essex to 325 all out this morning, Ian Harvey finishing with five for 64. Gloucestershire started poorly in their second innings, but Jack Russell and Ian Fisher pulled things round, each making an undefeated 74 as the hosts reached 245 for six at stumps, 303 ahead.Northants have taken control of their game against Notts, after the visitors were reduced to 169 for eight in their second innings, just 238 ahead. Jason Brown and Graeme Swann each took three wickets.

Mohammedan Sporting, the renowned cricket giants in the domestic sector of Bangladesh humbled Surjatarun Club by a mammoth 156 run in the Premier League today. Steve Tikolo, the frequent salvager of Mohammedan did not disappoint his mates as he slashed 93 off just 73 deliveries that took account of eleven fours and a six. Mohammedan made a hurried start having lost a couple of wickets as a result, but Parvez and Tikolo pulled up the string with relentless flow of run on their bat. The pair added 102 in the third wicket stand to forecast the side’s plausibility to cross three-hundred figure landmark. The possibility was buttressed by Sanwar’s(43) and Motoza’s(27) cameos. Mohammedan calmed themselves with 303 on the board for the loss of 8 wickets, throwing a daunting task for Surjatarun to get hold of.Though the first pair handled the new-ball attack with ease, four quick wickets knocked their hopes down and soon they began to strive for survival. The remains of Surjatarun innings brought gloom to the supporters as they were wrapped up to 147 still having 74 balls at hand. Hannan Sarkar topped with 46, put some resistance at least among the frail Surjatarun line-up. Ashiqur Rahman grabbed 3 for 29 and occasional off-spinner Sanwar Hossain went for 3 giving away only 12.

It almost had to happen, really.It is three months since Tasmania last played Queensland in a Pura Cup match in Brisbane. It is three months since the Tigers came across one of the most capricious and controversial ‘Gabba pitches in memory. It is three months since they recorded – in the one game, no less – their two lowest totals in domestic first-class competition. It is three months since they were beaten in the fastest time ever taken to complete a match of its kind in Australia, and it is three months since they found themselves at one of the lower ebbs in the state’s cricketing history.Queensland’s ten wicket victory back then went a long way toward sealing its spot in the Final, and it appeared to have gone just as far in ending Tasmania’s summer.But, in the three months since, nothing has proved more fateful than that experience.That it is Queensland and Tasmania that have ultimately emerged as this Australian first-class season’s two best-performing teams, and that the concluding contest of the summer should be staged between them in Brisbane, combines wicked irony with delicious anticipation.It is crunch time in the Australian domestic summer and, whatever course the 2001-02 Pura Cup Final follows, it is impossible for it not to create a delightful new slice of history.Thirteen years have passed since a state last won this competition three times in a row, and the feat has never been achieved by Queensland. With triumphs over Victoria in each of the last two years still fresh in the memory, opportunities to join the ranks of some of the most exalted Australian domestic teams do not come much better than this.For Tasmania, the possibilities are no less exciting. Though the Tigers represent the smallest state in the country, and confront a routine lack of respect from mainlanders every year, they have refused to acquiesce with expectation this season. Moreover, in collecting 26 of a maximum 30 points from their last five outings – the four they surrendered were largely attributable to appalling weather in Melbourne – they have established themselves as the form team of the competition.And, should they reverse that outcome from their Brisbane duel earlier in the summer, it would be among the most amazing results in Tasmanian sporting history. As parties go, the victory celebrations would have few forerunners within their state.The visitors’ task seems simple enough in itself. They merely need to continue riding the wave that has carried them to a stage of the competition that their state has only known twice in its past.Given how well their bowlers are combining, and how effortlessly they seem to be collecting 20 wickets in their matches these days, it does not seem too daunting a requirement. Veteran David Saker and journeyman Shane Jurgensen have been outstanding, aligning movement both ways with metronomic line. Gerard Denton offers another dimension with his extreme pace, filling the void that was left when Shane Watson was called away to international duty in February. And, though injury threatens his participation this week, the fact that Damien Wright’s immaculate line and length is now being paired with sizeable lower order contributions with the bat and accomplished catching in the gully means that his role in Tasmania’s revival has also been central.Strong performances from the top and middle order – traditionally seen as the key to Tasmania’s game – have also been flowing readily after being uncharacteristically absent prior to Christmas.Opening batsman and captain Jamie Cox looks to be back to his best with scores of 174 and 72 in his two most recent matches; former Western Australian Michael Dighton has settled in seamlessly both to his new surroundings and his role at number three; Daniel Marsh provides a cool head and an efficient run scoring presence; and Michael Di Venuto is as eager for anyone for meaningful runs at the end of a troubled season and on the back of two previous experiences in first-class deciders.The spirit and determination embedded in the batting of Scott Mason at the top of the order – not to mention his role as a cheerleader in the field – have also been intangible assets.As have the nerve and skill of wicketkeeper-batsman Sean Clingeleffer at number seven.Yet the Tigers’ assignment over the next five days is likely to be as challenging as any they have encountered.Though five key players are missing (Matthew Hayden, Andy Bichel, Jimmy Maher and Nathan Hauritz to international commitments, and Adam Dale to long-term injury), there remains no state team as professional as Queensland.From Stuart Law’s on-field leadership right through to the off-field administration, few stones are left unturned in Brisbane in the search for optimum results.It is not by way of chance or accident that the Bulls will be appearing in their seventh first-class final in the last decade, nor that they are shooting for a remarkable fifth title in only eight years.This time around, the top six in their batting order has a slightly unstable look to it, with three players of considerable experience aligned with another trio with precious little. Yet, in Martin Love, they have the consummate big occasion player. Rival captain Cox rates him alongside South Australia’s Darren Lehmann as one of the two most dangerous batsmen in the country and it’s difficult to disagree.Injury and form have scuttled the seasons of Law and of Andrew Symonds to an extent but both have sound records against Tasmania. Instructively, Law also has an outstanding record in finals matches, albeit that Victorians might mutter something about the fact that his luck at this time of year may be due to run out.Bichel and Dale may be unavailable but there’s still a lot to like in the Queenslanders’ pace attack as well.It has been three seasons since Michael Kasprowicz was permitted the opportunity to play in such a match, and a further two since he last received first-hand experience of the joy of a title victory. A fine fast bowler even when little is at stake, he looms as one of the key players in this contest.Ashley Noffke needs little introduction at this time of the season either, having gained man of the match honours in a devastating performance in the corresponding game 12 months ago. Joe Dawes is always lionhearted, rarely strays from a line and length, and was the competition’s leading wicket-taker last summer. And, though a surprise inclusion when called up to the side late in the season, young left armer Scott Brant has proved as adept at conquering batsmen as anyone.For all the talk in recent days about the Bulls being understrength in this match, it also shouldn’t be forgotten that Tasmania has been deprived the services of Watson, Ricky Ponting and, potentially, Wright.Conditioned by the knowledge that the sides’ two previous meetings have not even entered a third day, and that both captains have talked up the attacking qualities of their respective line-ups in the hours leading into the match, an engrossing battle can be confidently expected.The closing game of the 100th full season of this competition is approaching and there have been few climaxes more keenly awaited.

Victoria ended a crucial day of the Pura Cup season with a flourish here at the Sydney Cricket Ground today, when seventeen year old debutant Cameron Whiteclaimed the wicket of Michael Bevan in only his fifth over in first-class cricket. It helped the Bushrangers limit fellow Final aspirant New South Wales to a scoreof 3/111 as it set out after the imposing tally of 409.With his slow, deliberate approach to the bowling crease and his ability to conceive ripping leg breaks, White (1/8) has a little of Shane Warne about him in hismannerisms as a spinner. Suffice to say that, even if Warne were here playing for his home state instead of representing his country in India, it is doubtful if any legspinner in the world have produced a more crucial breakthrough at a more crucial time.After the Blues had launched their own wicket-taking assault in the early part of the afternoon, finally ridding themselves of the Bushrangers just before tea, the locals’first innings got off to a shaky start. They lost Greg Mail (2) and Graeme Rummans (28) in the early stages. But, with a determined Michael Clarke (13*), thein-form Bevan (62) had the Blues motoring toward an ominous position as they reached a score of 2/111 three overs before stumps. It was then that White lured the lefthander into an ill-advised sweep which succeeded only in ballooning the ball behind him to Matthew Elliott at slip. And it was then that Victoria probably struck themost decisive blow of this match to date.For all that, though, the Victorians also owed a big debt by the end of the day to Brad Hodge (125) and Michael Klinger (67). Before Nathan Bracken (5/68) finallybrought the Blues’ attack some relief by producing a quick clatter of wickets after lunch, that pair lit up the pre-lunch session with a tremendous fourth wicketpartnership that realised 151 runs. Both played brilliantly, giving few chances until Klinger was finally removed by a delivery from Shane Lee (1/53) that duckedback off the seam and struck him in line with leg stump.Bracken had been bowling very well all morning without reward so it should probably have come as little surprise that, in the 126th over of the innings, he finallymanaged to lure Hodge into spooning back a caught and bowled chance off a leading edge. Hodge misread a slower delivery that pitched on a full length, lifting itstraight up in the air and back to the bowler for a simple catch. Bracken had possibly been buoyed by news of his selection into the one-day international squad thatwill leave for India shortly; whatever the cause, he embarked on a wicket-taking flurry, achieving the second best figures of his first-class career.Bracken’s spree continued just nine overs later when, in the 135th over, he claimed two wickets, taking Darren Berry (17) with the second ball of his twenty-seventhover, and captain Paul Reiffel (0) for a duck just two balls later. Berry tried a gentle push to an off side ball, but only attained the outside edge of the bat and sent itinto debutant Nathan Pilon’s waiting gloves. Reiffel was deceived by a ball which seamed away, also feathering a catch to Pilon. This took Bracken’s figures to 3/66and Victoria to 7/391.Around a composed innings from another debutant, Jonathan Moss (32), the final three wickets also fell quickly.But the Blues – who desperately need first innings points at the very least from this game to stay in the race for the 2000-01 Pura Cup – have always been on theback foot in this game and the late Victorian collapse didn’t really alter that fact. On a pitch that showed a few more signs of life late on a generally sunny day, it wasonly Bevan’s batting that would have inspired genuine confidence from a sparse local crowd.